Key Issues

National Forum on Waterpipe Use – Final Report

The popularity of waterpipe smoking has been steadily increasing since the 1990s, and public health practitioners from across Canada have taken notice. Hookah establishments are popping up from coast to coast and there is widespread availability of tobacco and “herbal” shisha at retail as well as on the internet. Recognizing the significance of this emerging issue, the Non‐Smokers’ Rights Association (NSRA) convened a national forum in February 2012. The goal of this 1.5 day meeting was to bring interested parties together to discuss the problem and to explore possible options for curbing the trend. Forty‐three participants from BC, AB, SK, ON, QC, NS and NL attended, representing tobacco control and public health organizations, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), provincial governments, universities and Health Canada.